Carolina’s final drive included two third-down rushing pickups by Newton and a third-down defensive holding penalty for another first down. Ginn’s scoring catch was his only reception of the game, though it was Newton’s third touchdown toss.

Stephen Gostkowski’s 26-yard field goal with 6:32 remaining put the Patriots ahead 20-17, giving them the lead for the first time in the game.

Brady connected on 29 of 40 passes for 296 yards. He completed his first 11 second-half passes, but his next four were incomplete before a fourth-down completion kept hope alive in the final minute.

The Patriots reached the Carolina 18-yard line for the game’s final snap, with safety Robert Lester making an interception.

Newton was 19-of-28 for 209 yards.

Newton threw a 15-yard touchdown strike to tight end Greg Olsen as the Panthers retook the lead, 17-10, with 2:10 left in the third quarter. The 13-play drive that consumed 8:21 was Carolina’s only possession of the quarter.

The Patriots responded with a nine-play, 80-yard drive with running back Stevan Ridley scoring from 1 yard out with 12:33 remaining. Wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins set up the scoring, taking the ball to the 1-yard line on a 37-yard reception.

Earlier in the second half, the Patriots tied the game at 10-10 with Brady’s 9-yard pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski on the opening drive of the second half.

The Panthers led 10-3 at halftime despite New England advancing into Carolina territory on all three of its first-half possessions.

The Panthers struck first on Newton’s 9-yard, third-down pass to receiver Brandon LaFell. The nine-play, 90-yard drive came on Carolina’s second possession, finishing at the 2:44 mark of the first quarter.

New England’s first drive fizzled with Greg Hardy’s sack of Brady.

On their next drive, the Patriots appeared to stall on fourth-and-2 from the Carolina 35. An illegal-use-of-hands penalty on Carolina cornerback Melvin White prolonged the march, which advanced to the 12-yard line before Ridley’s fumble.

With a 12-play drive, the Panthers increased their lead on Gano’s 43-yard field goal with 5:02 remaining in the second quarter.

New England’s only first-half scoring came on Gostkowski’s 42-yard 1:09 before halftime.

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